Marine oil seeps and airborne particulates characterisation for organic compositional fingerprinting by using novel gas chromatographic technologies. Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GCxGC) is a powerful new tool for studying complex organic materials. The technique provides a highly sensitive method of fingerprinting not only the composition of the material but also its environmental history and behaviour. In this project the technique will be applied to a range of petroleum- ....Marine oil seeps and airborne particulates characterisation for organic compositional fingerprinting by using novel gas chromatographic technologies. Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GCxGC) is a powerful new tool for studying complex organic materials. The technique provides a highly sensitive method of fingerprinting not only the composition of the material but also its environmental history and behaviour. In this project the technique will be applied to a range of petroleum-related organic samples, including oil seeps from the ocean floor, and airborne particulates contributing to air pollution. The research will lead to a better understanding of geochemistry of petroleum-related materials and their potential impact on the environment and on public health.Read moreRead less
Uncoupling past salinity and temperature signals in the Indo-Pacific Warm Pool: implications for climate change in the Australian region. The tropical oceans and in particular the Indo-Pacific Warm Pool, immediately to Australia's north, play a key role in modulating global and Australian climate through El-Niño and related phenomena. Using a new microanalysis approach to analyse individual foraminifera from deep-sea cores, we will reconstruct past salinity and temperature variability within the ....Uncoupling past salinity and temperature signals in the Indo-Pacific Warm Pool: implications for climate change in the Australian region. The tropical oceans and in particular the Indo-Pacific Warm Pool, immediately to Australia's north, play a key role in modulating global and Australian climate through El-Niño and related phenomena. Using a new microanalysis approach to analyse individual foraminifera from deep-sea cores, we will reconstruct past salinity and temperature variability within the Warm Pool, and determine changing rainfall patterns and, ENSO and monsoon behaviour under climate conditions that lie outside modern records. This information is vital for understanding past climate and predicting the future intensity and frequency of El-Niño related drought and wet cycles in Australia.Read moreRead less
Weathering on Mars and Australian Analogues: Developing Suitable Chronological Tools and Theoretical Approaches. The research outlined in this proposal will place Australia at the forefront of Mars exploration research. It will lead to the development of new approaches for the analysis of minerals formed by low temperature water-rock interaction and for the interpretation of geochronological results obtained from supergene minerals. The new analytical approaches developed in this project will ha ....Weathering on Mars and Australian Analogues: Developing Suitable Chronological Tools and Theoretical Approaches. The research outlined in this proposal will place Australia at the forefront of Mars exploration research. It will lead to the development of new approaches for the analysis of minerals formed by low temperature water-rock interaction and for the interpretation of geochronological results obtained from supergene minerals. The new analytical approaches developed in this project will have direct application in the study of the paleoclimatological and environmental evolution of Earth and Mars. It will also result in improved understanding of environmental and landscape evolution in Australia, helping to reach the objectives of an Environmentally Sustainable Australia, a national research priority.Read moreRead less
Integrated approach to self assembled molecular capsules. Process intensification technologies in the form of spinning disc and rotating tube processing are new to Australia and present many opportunities for both carrying out the synthesis of organic compounds and in fabricating nanomaterials. The ensuing nanotechnological applications are more benign in approach then other fabrication techniques, minimising the generation of waste at the same time under continuous flow which is likely to be mo ....Integrated approach to self assembled molecular capsules. Process intensification technologies in the form of spinning disc and rotating tube processing are new to Australia and present many opportunities for both carrying out the synthesis of organic compounds and in fabricating nanomaterials. The ensuing nanotechnological applications are more benign in approach then other fabrication techniques, minimising the generation of waste at the same time under continuous flow which is likely to be more attractive to industry. Proposed applications such as drug delivery, catalysis, smart materials and device technology are expected to foster industrial collaborations. The project will provide first-rate research training and promote Australian science through the development of these new technologies.Read moreRead less
Integrated self assembly processes and spinning disc reactor technology. Spinning Disc Reactor technology is new to Australia and will have wide ranging applications in nano-technology and in developing benign industrial chemical processes with smaller footprint and significantly reduced capital outlay. The cutting edge research will foster collaboration with industry, and lead to establishing new industries in device technology, smart materials, health care products, catalysis and energy storag ....Integrated self assembly processes and spinning disc reactor technology. Spinning Disc Reactor technology is new to Australia and will have wide ranging applications in nano-technology and in developing benign industrial chemical processes with smaller footprint and significantly reduced capital outlay. The cutting edge research will foster collaboration with industry, and lead to establishing new industries in device technology, smart materials, health care products, catalysis and energy storage, through exploiting commercial opportunities. The project will provide excellent research training in a range of scientific skills and in professional development, and will involve overseas PhD exchange programs. The exciting research incorporating benign metrics will enhance public opinion towards science. Read moreRead less
Molecular Structure and Transport Properties of Hydrothermal Fluids under Extreme Conditions: Near-Critical, High Salinity, High Pressure and High Volatile Contents. The experimental capabilities, theoretical understanding, and numerical modeling methods developed in this project have broad implication for supporting both well-established (mineral exploration and ore processing) and emerging (geothermal energy; geosequestration) industries of core significance for the future of Australia's econo ....Molecular Structure and Transport Properties of Hydrothermal Fluids under Extreme Conditions: Near-Critical, High Salinity, High Pressure and High Volatile Contents. The experimental capabilities, theoretical understanding, and numerical modeling methods developed in this project have broad implication for supporting both well-established (mineral exploration and ore processing) and emerging (geothermal energy; geosequestration) industries of core significance for the future of Australia's economy. This project also provides access to unique technology developed overseas; this technology will be adapted for the unique challenges faced by Australia, and made available to the broader scientific community via the Australian Synchrotron.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989986
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$230,000.00
Summary
Hybrid Fourier Transform Dispersive Raman Micro-Spectrometer. This facility will be used in a wide range of existing and new research projects in government priority areas such as the development of new materials, frontier technologies for building and transforming existing industries, better understanding of diversity and functioning in mycorrhizal and other fungi in forest soils and plant roots and developing new characterisation methods for forensic investigations. The proposed equipment aims ....Hybrid Fourier Transform Dispersive Raman Micro-Spectrometer. This facility will be used in a wide range of existing and new research projects in government priority areas such as the development of new materials, frontier technologies for building and transforming existing industries, better understanding of diversity and functioning in mycorrhizal and other fungi in forest soils and plant roots and developing new characterisation methods for forensic investigations. The proposed equipment aims to provide outstanding opportunities for the training of research students, expanding research in the fields of materials, minerals, geological, environmental and forensic science enabling to maintain Australia's lead and competitiveness in cutting edge research and technology. Read moreRead less
Metal Directed Assembly of New Discrete and Framework Supramolecular Systems. An important aspect of this project is the development of strategies for assembling molecules and metals into larger units - leading to novel compounds and materials for which unusual and potentially useful properties can be anticipated. These may include materials that act as catalysts for chemical reactions or absorb and store gases (such as hydrogen for use as a fuel). More generally, the area is one that will under ....Metal Directed Assembly of New Discrete and Framework Supramolecular Systems. An important aspect of this project is the development of strategies for assembling molecules and metals into larger units - leading to novel compounds and materials for which unusual and potentially useful properties can be anticipated. These may include materials that act as catalysts for chemical reactions or absorb and store gases (such as hydrogen for use as a fuel). More generally, the area is one that will underpin the 'bottom-up' approach (building tiny components from individual molecules and ions) in the rapidly expanding field of nanotechnology. Clearly, if Australia is to remain internationally competitive in such new technologies then an understanding of processes of the type outlined in this proposal will be essential.Read moreRead less
Metal Directed Assembly of New Supramolecular Systems. An important aspect of this project is the development of strategies for assembling molecules and metals into larger units - leading to novel compounds and materials for which unusual and potentially useful properties can be anticipated. These may include materials that act as catalysts for chemical reactions or absorb and store gases (such as hydrogen for use as a fuel). More generally, the area is one that will underpin the 'bottom-up' ap ....Metal Directed Assembly of New Supramolecular Systems. An important aspect of this project is the development of strategies for assembling molecules and metals into larger units - leading to novel compounds and materials for which unusual and potentially useful properties can be anticipated. These may include materials that act as catalysts for chemical reactions or absorb and store gases (such as hydrogen for use as a fuel). More generally, the area is one that will underpin the 'bottom-up' approach (building tiny components from individual molecules and ions) in the rapidly expanding field of nanotechnology. Clearly, if Australia is to remain internationally competitive in such new technologies then an understanding of processes of the type outlined in this proposal will be essential.Read moreRead less
Nanoscale Molecular Architectures - New Metallo Cages and Capsules. The design and synthesis of novel cage and capsule-like supermolecular structures will be undertaken, including rare examples of two large cage types - one designed to incorporate two adjacent metal ions in an extended (chiral) cavity while the other utilises macrocyclic metal complexes as the 'walls' of the cage. In the latter case metal variation makes possible the alteration of the electronic environment of a guest occupying ....Nanoscale Molecular Architectures - New Metallo Cages and Capsules. The design and synthesis of novel cage and capsule-like supermolecular structures will be undertaken, including rare examples of two large cage types - one designed to incorporate two adjacent metal ions in an extended (chiral) cavity while the other utilises macrocyclic metal complexes as the 'walls' of the cage. In the latter case metal variation makes possible the alteration of the electronic environment of a guest occupying the central cavity . A third (capsule-like) system is designed to 'open' and 'close' under pH control. The present studies hold promise for underpinning the future development of nano-scale molecular devices.
Read moreRead less